Find Civil Court Filings in Fall River
Fall River civil court records are held at the Fall River District Court for claims up to $50,000, with probate and housing civil matters handled at separate courts in the same city. This page covers where to search, how to request copies, what fees to expect, and how to use MassCourts to look up Fall River civil court records before visiting any courthouse in Bristol County.
Fall River District Court Civil Records
The Fall River District Court on South Main Street is where most Fall River civil court records are created and maintained. The court handles civil claims up to $50,000 and small claims up to $7,000. It serves Fall River along with Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport. The court is on the 5th floor at 186 South Main Street, and the clerk's office handles civil filings and record requests Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Fall River District Court page on mass.gov lists the current address, phone number, and session schedule for civil case access in Fall River.
The district court clerk's office manages new civil case filings, docket access, and copy requests for Fall River civil court records at the district level.
| Court | Fall River District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 186 South Main Street, 5th Floor, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Phone | (508) 491-3200 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov/locations/fall-river-district-court |
The Fall River District Court has a Court Service Center on-site. This is a free resource for people who are representing themselves in civil cases. Staff can help you understand the forms, explain the filing process, and point you toward the right court for your type of case. This is one of the most useful things about the Fall River courthouse that many people do not take advantage of. If you have never filed a civil case before, a visit to the Court Service Center before filing can save you time and errors.
One practical limitation to know: same-day file review is limited to three files per visit. If you need to review more than three case files in a single day at Fall River District Court, you will need to return on a separate day or call ahead to make arrangements. This limit applies to in-person file review, not to online case lookups through MassCourts.
Note: Same-day file review at Fall River District Court is limited to three files per visit, so plan your requests in advance if you need to review multiple Fall River civil court records.
Bristol Superior Court - Fall River Location
The Bristol County Superior Court has a location at 186 South Main Street in Fall River, in the same building as the district court. However, the Fall River superior court location handles criminal matters only. Civil cases for Bristol County at the superior court level are handled at the New Bedford location, not Fall River. This is an important distinction when searching for Fall River civil court records at the superior court level.
The Bristol County Superior Court Fall River page on mass.gov confirms the address and function of this court location and can be used to verify that civil matters are directed to New Bedford instead.
If you have a civil claim over $50,000 and you are based in Fall River, you will file at the Bristol County Superior Court in New Bedford, not at the Fall River location on South Main Street.
| Court | Bristol County Superior Court - Fall River |
|---|---|
| Address | 186 South Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Phone | (508) 491-3300 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov/locations/bristol-county-superior-court-fall-river |
If you are unsure whether your civil case should go to Fall River District Court or to the New Bedford superior court, the Court Service Center inside the Fall River courthouse can help you make that determination. The threshold is straightforward: $50,000 and below goes to district court, over $50,000 goes to superior court in New Bedford. But the case type matters too. Some civil matters, like equity cases or certain injunction requests, go to superior court regardless of the dollar amount involved. Checking with the clerk or the Court Service Center before you file prevents a refiled case and wasted filing fees.
Bristol Probate Court - Fall River
The Bristol Probate and Family Court has a Fall River location at 289 Rock Street. This court handles civil matters involving estates, guardianship, conservatorship, name changes, and related family civil proceedings. Probate civil court records for Fall River residents are held here. This is a separate court from the district and superior courts, with its own docket system.
| Court | Bristol Probate and Family Court - Fall River |
|---|---|
| Address | 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Phone | (508) 672-1751 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov/orgs/bristol-probate-and-family-court |
Probate civil court records can be searched through MassCourts just like other court types. When searching, make sure to select the probate court filter in addition to Bristol County to narrow down results. If you are searching for an estate matter or guardianship case filed by a Fall River resident, this is the court to contact for copies. In-person requests for probate civil records in Fall River go to 289 Rock Street, not to South Main Street where the district and superior courts are located.
Southeast Housing Court - Fall River
The Southeast Housing Court has a Fall River session at 289 Rock Street, the same address as the probate court. This specialized civil court handles housing-related civil cases including conditions of property disputes, code enforcement actions, and other housing civil matters. Fall River housing civil court records are separate from general civil dockets at the district court.
| Court | Southeast Housing Court - Fall River Session |
|---|---|
| Address | 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720 |
| Phone | (508) 677-1505 |
| Hours | Mon-Fri, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | mass.gov/orgs/southeast-housing-court |
If your civil case in Fall River involves housing conditions or disputes between property owners and other parties over property use, the Southeast Housing Court is the relevant venue. Cases at the housing court are searchable through MassCourts under the housing court category. Use the phone number above to contact the Fall River session specifically, since this court has multiple session locations across southeastern Massachusetts.
Search Fall River Civil Court Records Online
MassCourts at masscourts.org is the free online tool for searching Fall River civil court records. The system covers all Massachusetts trial courts, including district, superior, probate, and housing courts. You can search by party name, case number, or attorney name without creating an account. No login is required. Results are available to anyone.
To search Fall River cases specifically, go to masscourts.org and filter by Bristol County and the relevant court type. The system shows docket entries, filing dates, case status, and scheduled hearings. Document images are not always included, but docket summaries give you enough detail to confirm a case and identify the right court before requesting paper copies.
MassCourts updates frequently, but very recent Fall River civil filings may take a short time to appear. If you cannot find a case you expect to see, call the clerk's office directly to confirm whether the case has been indexed yet. For cases that are very old or archived, the online search may not show them at all, and an in-person or mail request to the clerk is the only option.
Note: MassCourts shows case docket summaries but does not include full document images; to get actual copies of civil filings, you must contact the clerk's office directly or submit a written request.
Fall River Civil Court Record Copy Fees
Bristol County courts use the following fee schedule for civil court record copies. These rates apply at Fall River District Court and the probate court on Rock Street. Certified copies cost more than plain copies, so make sure you know which type you need before you request records.
- Regular copies: $1.00 per page
- Certified copies: $4.50 per page
- Name search fee: $5.00 per name
For large case files, the cost of certified copies can be substantial. Ask the clerk for a page count estimate before they pull a file. If you only need a few specific documents rather than the full case file, identifying exactly which documents you want in advance can keep costs down. Regular copies at $1.00 per page are sufficient for personal reference use. You only need certified copies if you are submitting the records to another court, government agency, or legal proceeding.
The $5.00 name search fee applies when you ask the clerk's office to search their index for cases associated with a specific name. This is different from using MassCourts, which is free. If you do your own MassCourts search first and then ask the clerk for specific records by case number, you may be able to avoid the name search fee entirely since you have already done the search yourself.
Call the clerk's office before your visit to confirm which forms of payment are accepted at each Fall River courthouse. Cash and money orders are generally safe options. Check acceptance and credit card policies vary by location and are subject to change.
Court Service Center at Fall River
The Court Service Center inside the Fall River District Court building is a free resource for people involved in civil cases who do not have a lawyer. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can help you find the right forms, explain what different court documents mean, and direct you to the right clerk's window. This service is available to anyone who walks in during courthouse hours.
If you are filing a small claims case in Fall River for the first time, the Court Service Center is a good first stop. The staff can explain the small claims process, help you fill out the complaint form correctly, and answer basic questions about what to expect at a hearing. For larger civil matters, the Court Service Center can point you toward legal aid resources in Bristol County if you cannot afford an attorney.
The Court Service Center does not handle requests for copies of civil court records. For that, you go to the clerk's window. But if you are not sure where to start, the Court Service Center is the place to ask. It is free and you do not need an appointment.
Other Bristol County Cities
Two other qualifying cities in Bristol County have civil court records pages. New Bedford has both a district court and a Bristol County Superior Court civil location, which is where Fall River residents with large civil claims must file. Taunton is the county seat and handles certain Bristol County matters as well.
Remember that civil claims over $50,000 for Fall River residents go to the Bristol County Superior Court in New Bedford, not to any Fall River court location. If you are searching for an older large civil case involving a Fall River party, check the New Bedford superior court docket through MassCourts.
Bristol County Civil Court Records
Fall River is in Bristol County. The Bristol County court system handles all civil filings for this area. For the full range of county resources, court locations, and fee schedules, visit the Bristol County civil court records page.